Plitvice Lakes from Zadar, by car
Plitvice Lakes National Park is 145 km and 2 h 15 by road from Zadar Airport, and the park says its summer crowds peak between 10:00 and 14:00.
2 h 15 from Zadar Airport, 145 km. Allow extra time for traffic and stops.
How long does it actually take to drive to Plitvice?
The drive from Zadar Airport to Plitvice Lakes is 145 km and takes 2 h 15.
The park's two main entrances are on the D429 state road, about 3 km apart.
The park authority says crowds peak between 10:00 and 14:00 in summer, when the park may close for short periods, and it advises arriving earlier or after 16:00. Its hours page lists 07:00 to 19:00. On the routed time, a 7:00 departure from the airport reaches the park at 9:15.
Which entrance should I use?
Plitvice has two main entrances, Entrance 1 (Rastovaca) and Entrance 2 (Hladovina), and an auxiliary entrance, Flora, near Entrance 2. Ticket desks and free luggage storage are at all three.
Visitor parking at Entrance 1 and Entrance 2 is paid, is available for all types of vehicle, and is settled at payment stalls on the way out. The car rate for 2026 is EUR 1.50 an hour from 1 March to 31 May and from 1 October to 30 November, and EUR 2.00 an hour from 1 June to 30 September.
- Entrance 1
- Rastovaca. Paid parking, ticket desk, free luggage storage.
- Entrance 2
- Hladovina. Paid parking, ticket desk, free luggage storage; the Flora auxiliary entrance is nearby.
What does the drive cost?
Fuel, parking, fines and tolls are the renter's cost, paid separately from the rental price. On HAC motorways with several entries and exits, the driver takes a ticket at the entry toll plaza and pays at the exit, in cash in euros, by card or by ENC.
A driver who reaches the exit without a record of entry, for example with a lost ticket, is charged double the toll for the longest route on that motorway from the exit point.
The car must go back with the same fuel level as at pickup. A lower level is charged at the rental company's rates, and a higher level is not compensated.
Can I do Plitvice and Krka on the same trip?
Plitvice is 145 km and 2 h 15 from Zadar Airport. Return trips from the airport to both Plitvice and Krka add up to 6 h 10 of driving.
The trip to Krka is 62 km and 50 minutes each way from Zadar Airport to Skradin. Krka National Park is open all year except 25 and 26 December, and Skradinski buk is open from 8:00 to 20:00 from June to August.
What kind of car makes sense for this drive?
The seat count of a seven-seater is shown on the car before payment, and the car parks at both main entrances take all types of vehicle. For tolls, an ordinary two-axle car up to 1.90 m high is Class I. A two-axle vehicle over 1.90 m high with a maximum authorised mass of up to 3,500 kg is Class II, which costs more.
Transmission is shown on each car before payment, so an automatic car for Croatia can be picked from the list. The driver's minimum age and driving experience are listed on each car's page.
When is the drive worth doing, and when is it not?
In winter the water in Plitvice's lakes and waterfalls ices over. The park says the Lower Lakes are usually open in winter while the Upper Lakes are closed, and the Upper Lakes usually reopen in early April, depending on the weather. In past winters some boat and panoramic train routes in the park did not operate.
Winter equipment is compulsory on Croatia's designated winter road sections from 15 November to 15 April. For a car, that means four winter tyres, or four summer tyres with at least 4 mm of tread plus snow chains or approved traction devices for the driven wheels.
From 1 November to 31 March, cars must drive with daytime running lights or dipped headlights on in daytime. The park's 2026 price list gives car parking rates from 1 March to 30 November only.
What the rental terms mean for this trip
Rental cars may travel only on paved public roads and go back with the fuel level they had at pickup. Fuel, tolls, parking and fines are the renter's cost. These terms apply to a booking without a deposit as to any other.
The contact number given at booking must be reachable on the day before pick-up and throughout the rental. Service quality claims are not accepted if the renter could not be reached by mobile phone or messenger (Viber, WhatsApp or Telegram).
Questions
Is there parking at Plitvice?
Both main entrances have paid visitor parking for all types of vehicle, settled at payment stalls on the way out. The car rate for 2026 is EUR 1.50 or EUR 2.00 an hour, depending on the season.
Can I drive to Plitvice in a hire car from the airport?
Yes. Plitvice is 145 km and 2 h 15 from Zadar Airport, inside Croatia, so no permission for travel abroad is needed. Rental cars may use paved public roads only.
Is the motorway toll expensive?
HAC tolls are charged by distance and vehicle class. A two-axle car up to 1.90 m high is Class I. Tolls are the renter's cost, like fuel and parking.
Can I drive the last stretch on an unpaved road?
Not in a hire car. Rental cars are allowed on paved public roads only.
Can we take a small dog in the car?
Only small pets may travel in rented cars, kept in their travel carriers at all times.
What does the driver need at pickup?
A valid national licence with the details in Latin script, valid to the end of the rental. Copies and electronic licences are not accepted, and an International Driving Permit is strongly recommended if your licence is only valid at home.